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This EUphact solely explores cigarette smoking. Other forms of tobacco use, such as cigar, pipe, water-pipe, hand-rolled tobacco and bidi smoking, as well as smokeless tobacco (such as chewing tobacco), are not included in this overview.
The cigarette is the most popular tobacco product and a very efficient drug delivery system. When tobacco is smoked, nicotine rapidly peaks in the bloodstream and enters the brain. Immediately after exposure to nicotine, a “kick” is induced in part due to the drug’s stimulation of the adrenal glands, resulting in a discharge of adrenaline. The rush of adrenaline stimulates the body and causes a sudden release of glucose, as well as an increase in blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate (NIDA, 2006).
Nicotine has several effects on the brain. An important discovery was made in relation to its addictive potential, namely that nicotine activates reward pathways. The calming effect of nicotine reported by many users is probably associated with a decline in withdrawal effects in addicted individuals rather than the direct effects of nicotine (NIDA, 2006).
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Nicotine is one of the 2000 chemical constituents of tobacco, and causes a strong physical and psychological chemical dependence or addiction. The incomplete combustion of tobacco that occurs during smoking releases almost 4000 chemicals. Among them are some 60 carcinogens, such as PAHs, tobacco-specific nitrosamines and aromatic amines.
There are three kinds of smoke, each with different toxicant concentrations, size of particles, effects of temperature, and a host of other characteristics:
- mainstream smoke (MS) is what emerges from the “mouth” or butt of a puffed cigarette;
- sidestream smoke (SS) is what arises from the lit end of a cigarette, mostly between puffs. SS contains a greater amount of carcinogens than MS (IARC, 1986) and
- environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), smoke present in air, consists of exhaled mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke (IOM, 2001).
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Literature and data sources
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Research report series: tobacco addiction. 2006</p>
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A group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, or other organic substances, such as tobacco.
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 Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, 1986; 38.</p>
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Clearing the Smoke: The Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reduction. Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. 2001</p>
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